Effects of aerobic exercise training on visceral fat and serum adiponectin concentration in ovariectomized rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on visceral fat and adiponectin levels in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHOD: Female Wistar rats were divided into OVX (n = 20) and sham-operated control (SHAM; n = 8) groups. OVX rats were subdivided into a sedentary (OVX-SED; n = 10) and an exercise (OVX-EX; n = 10) group. The exercise consisted of 8 weeks of aerobic exercise (26 m/min, 5 days/week, 60 min/day, 10% slope). RESULTS: In OVX rats, body weight was 21% greater (255.2 +/- 9.31 vs. 211.63 +/- 3.23; p < 0.01) and visceral fat was 29% greater (10.87 +/- 0.66 vs. 8.43 +/- 0.45; p < 0.05) than in SHAM rats. After training, visceral fat was 20% lower in OVX-EX rats than in OVX-SED rats (8.72 +/- 0.46 vs. 10.87 +/- 0.66; p < 0.05). After 8 weeks of running on the treadmill, levels of serum glucose, insulin and serum adiponectin, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were not changed significantly in the OVX-EX group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 8-week exercise training induces a decrease in visceral fat, and this reduction without weight loss does not change serum adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity in ovariectomized rats.